THE INdependent student news organization at the university of cincinnati Vol. CXXVIV Issue 16
wednesday , oct . 28, 2009 dear mr. president Student asks Obama to reconsider campaign slogan “Yes, we can.” page 4
gnarly, dude Two students capture their freeskiing adventures on film. page 3
football preview
Cats travel to Syracuse for Halloween matchup. page 6
Deceptive pregnancy centers flushed out carly tamborski the news record
Deceptive facilities called Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) are setting up shop near college campuses across the country, and the University of Cincinnati is no exception, according to the Feminist Majority Foundation. The National Abortion Federation (NAF) defines CPCs as “deceptive facilities that look like medical clinics, but are actually anti-choice centers that exist to keep women from having abortions and misinform or intimidate women to achieve their goal.” Women have described being harassed, bullied and given false information, according to NAF. “I’m sure the facts have some degree of truth to them,” said Ashley Bowser, a fourth-year nursing major. “But since these facilities are pro-life, I’m sure some pump up the facts or exaggerate them to make them seem or sound worse than they actually are to try to scare women out of it.” UC’s campus planner includes a full-page advertisement for Pregnancy Center East under the “Abortion Counseling” section. The center offers abortion consultation and immediate medical referral service, but does not perform abortions, support abortion or refer clients to other abortion clinics. The planner also has a section called “Abortion Alternatives,” including one of the potential CPCs in Cincinnati in its listing. “Abortion is the most common medical procedure in the country,” said Barbara Rinto, director of the UC Women’s Center. “I’m not saying that’s good, just that we need to bring
“They call us fake clinics, well I say what’s fake about it? This is all volunteer time by people who believe life is sacred, so we don’t perform abortions.” joan loebker, president at pregnancy center west
it out into the light.” These establishments are not medical facilities and are largely staffed by volunteers who call themselves counselors. Many are near authentic abortion clinics in an attempt to look more legitimate and attract potential clients away from receiving abortion care by capitalizing on patients’ confusion, according to NAF. “They call us fake clinics, well I say what’s fake about it?” said Joan Loebker, President of the Board of the Pregnancy Center West on Glenway Avenue. “We just give free pregnancy tests and facts about childbirth and abortion. We don’t charge a dime – this is all volunteer time by people who believe life is sacred, so we don’t perform abortions. If a client chooses to keep her baby, we refer her to Good Sam’s pre-natal clinic right downstairs.” There are several ways to identify a potential CPC. A CPC offers free pregnancy tests and videos that might discourage women from abortion, but do not give referrals for abortion. Some, but not all CPCs, advertise that it can help with finances, medical care, adoption or childcare if they choose to continue their pregnancy or give information that could be construed as
misleading, inaccurate or a scare tactic. “These places pose as comprehensive women’s health clinics, when they actually don’t offer abortion services, contraception or referrals,” said Holly Tomlinson, of The Feminist Majority Foundation. “They use scare tactics and misinformation to manipulate women to choose motherhood or adoption while pressuring them not to consider abortion or birth control, and many claim abortion leads to breast cancer, infertility, suicide and that condoms will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections – all claims that have been disputed by studies conducted by the American Medical Association, American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization.” In an effort to help clients combat the confusion, a bill titled the “Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women’s Services Act,” was introduced by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY). The bill allows the Federal Trade Commission to regulate the advertising practices of CPCs in order to prevent confusion with legitimate abortion providers. There are several ways to identify a comprehensive or legitimate women’s health see CENTERS | page 2
UC matches national trends
College of Medicine continues to attract first-year students
SAM GREENE | the news record
STUDENTS PASS THROUGH the Donald G. Harrison Health & Sciences Library in Center for Academic Research Excellence building Monday, Oct. 26.
JUSTIN TEPE | the news record
PREGNANCY CENTER EAST located in the Hyde Park Medical Arts building on Erie Avenue offers abortion counseling and information that might be deceptive to women with first-time pregnancies.
F
AMANDA WOODRUFF the news record
irst-year enrollment in U.S. medical schools continues to increase each year with a 2 percent increase nationally compared to 2008, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine experienced an increase as well from 165 first-year students in September 2008 to 175 students last month. “Of course, we recruit students,” said Stephen Manuel, assistant dean of admissions. Recruiters visit other medical schools like Miami University, Ohio State University and also visit undergraduate classes at UC. Of the 3,898 applications submitted to UC’s College of Medicine for the 2008 Fall quarter, 28.4 percent were in state while 71.6 percent were out of state. Of the accepted students who chose to enroll, 61.6 percent were in-state applicants, according to AAMC. The ratio of in-state and out-of-state applicants has remained relatively constant in the last five years. “The majority of first-year students are from Ohio,” Manuel said. “So that means about 65 percent or 110 to 115 students, which is a fairly healthy ratio considering the number of other medical schools in Ohio and that is harder for out-of-state students to enroll.” Proof that the economy has had little affect on the enrollment of medical school students is seen in the number applications, which were submitted one year prior to beginning classes. The Medical College Admissions Test or MCAT also gauges the medical school enrollment with a 3 percent increase from 2008, according to AAMC. UC is one of thousands of medical schools to experience an increase in first-year students. One of the reasons is the growing need for physicians. The AAMC expects there to be a shortage of doctors – approximately 124,000 to 159,000 doctors by 2025, according to AAMC. see MEDICINE | page 2
VALU helps families cope with homicides
weather
david schuler the news record
64° 47°
index
1 News 3 Spotlight 4 Opinion 5 Classifieds 6 Sports
The University of Cincinnati School of Social Work’s partnership with the Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit is going strong three years into its establishment. The partnership, Victims Assistance Liaison Unit (VALU) is a program brought to Cincinnati by Thomas H. Streicher Jr., police chief at district 5 of the Cincinnati Police Department. The program is designed to provide services to the grief-stricken family members of homicide victims, funded by a grant through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
The program fills a gap in services to the community, said Susan Carlson, director of field studies for the School of Social Work. “VALU really looks at the secondary victims of these crimes,” Carlson said. “The police need to focus on investigating homicides, so when families request assistance VALU steps in.” VALU helps in a variety of ways by providing assistance in funeral planning and organizing group therapy sessions for family members. Monica Middleton is a graduate student in the School of Social Work
and a member of the VALU team. She said the experience she is gaining is invaluable. “I am experiencing a mix of working with law enforcement and social services,” Middleton said. On working with the homicide unit they work well together but forming solid working relationships take time, she said. “Initially, we slowly had to build trust with each other,” Middleton said. The job has many rewards, but Middleton said it can be difficult at times because of the extreme emotional pain people are experiencing. “You can provide basic services
for these families, but in the end you cannot do anything for the grief they feel,” Middleton said. Requests for the services have increased since the program began, according to VALU. “I am excited that I am watching and helping the program grow,” Middleton said. Carlson also has high hopes for the program in the future. “Of course we would like to see the program grow,” Carlson said. “Eventually, we hope for the Cincinnati Police Department to absorb it and establish it as a permanent program.” Streicher was unavailable for comment as of press time.
online @ www.newsrecord.org ONLINE POLL Have you, or do you know someone who has had an experience with a Crisis Pregnancy Center?
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